Ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, two franchises have announced significant player roster changes due to injuries. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially named fast-bowler Navdeep Saini as a replacement for Harshit Rana. Concurrently, the Gujarat Titans (GT) have brought in Kulwant Khejroliya to fill the spot vacated by Prithviraj Yarra.
Harshit Rana was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 following a ligament strain in his right knee, an injury sustained during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. Rana underwent surgery in February and is currently in the process of extensive rehabilitation. Navdeep Saini, a right-arm pacer, has a record of 23 wickets in 32 IPL matches and has also claimed 23 wickets in international cricket for India. He joins KKR for a reported sum of INR 75 lakh.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-2026-navdeep-saini-replace-harshit-rana-kkr-khejroliya-gt-10601229/
